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Associated Press - May 6, 2009 6:15 PM ET
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Governor Tim Kaine says a hacker who accessed millions of personal electronic pharmaceutical records from a state prescription database is the target of a state and federal criminal dragnet.
State Police and the FBI are searching for whomever accessed patient and prescription records collected by the Prescription Monitoring Program.
In a phone interview with The Associated Press, the governor said Thursday's breach was a crime and it's being treated that way.
The state-run program allows medical professionals and pharmacies statewide to track powerful drugs such as OxyContin and Vicodin and curb their abuse, theft and illegal sale.
The hackers reportedly are seeking a $10 million ransom to return the data. Kaine said the act infuriated him and the hackers won't get a penny.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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